| Having the right cutting and trimming tools makes | | | | cutting surface is specifically designed to allow you |
| a big difference in the final look of your | | | | to cut any shape with your rotary cutter and can |
| scrapbooking, rubber stamping, and cardmaking | | | | be used many times without showing wear. |
| projects. This guide helps explain the differences | | | | Shape cutters are popular because cutting a circle, |
| between tools and what they are best suited for. | | | | flower, or oval by hand can be very difficult. You'll |
| Your finished stamping or scrapbooking project will | | | | find many different sizes of shape cutters. Usually |
| look superb when you use the right cutting and | | | | you will find a plastic, grooved template that will |
| trimming tools. | | | | allow you to cut many different sizes of the |
| Popular trimming tools are the guillotine cutter, | | | | same shape. Make sure the system has easily |
| personal paper trimmer, and rotary cutter. Paper | | | | replaceable blades and the cutting head swivels |
| punches, scoring blades, T-squares, and shape | | | | smoothly. |
| cutters are also important tools and will assist with | | | | Paper punches are the easiest way to make sure |
| each and every project. | | | | your shape is perfectly cut every time. Your |
| The first paper trimmer to come to mind is the | | | | paper punches should be easy to use and have |
| guillotine, which can be purchased at any office | | | | no trouble cutting through card stocks. If your |
| supply store. A straight blade is pulled directly | | | | paper punch becomes difficult to use, it could be a |
| over the paper to make a perfectly straight cut. | | | | result of glues or adhesives getting into the die |
| Get a solid, well made trimmer with tight handle | | | | mechanism. Usually a spray of a silicone lubricant |
| fittings. Most guillotine trimmers can cut between | | | | will solve this problem. |
| ten to twenty pieces of paper at a time. The | | | | T-squares and the scoring blades are tools that |
| guillotine handle should be made of metal or | | | | can be very helpful while stamping and |
| strong fiberglass and should not flex at all. | | | | scrapbooking...and often get overlooked. Accurate, |
| If you need to cut small pieces of card stock or | | | | durable T-squares can be purchased at your local |
| photos, the mini paper trimmer is the tool to use. | | | | hardware store. Smaller less durable versions can |
| Small paper trimmers usually have safety | | | | be purchased at a craft or hobby store. Make |
| features that make them especially suitable for | | | | sure to buy a quality T-square that has a tooled |
| trimming small items held by hand. Personal paper | | | | edge. T-squares allow you to line up corners and |
| trimmers are not suitable, however, for long | | | | make for a perfect scoring and marking tool. |
| straight cuts. Most mini paper trimmers are made | | | | Scoring blades can be used to make straight |
| of lightweight plastic and can fit in a desk drawer. | | | | tears along the bottom of your matte paper or |
| Rotary trimmers are the newest of the bunch | | | | handmade card. Some of the new designer |
| and have become favorites for many different | | | | scoring blades allow you make decorative tears |
| reasons. For rubber stamping and scrapbooking | | | | on card stock. |
| projects, the rotary trimmer excels because you | | | | Whether you're scrapbooking, cardmaking, or |
| can purchase many different styles of artistic | | | | rubber stamp project is large or small having the |
| cutting blades. Need to make a straight, curvy | | | | proper cutting and trimming tools is very |
| edge? Want to perforate a homemade envelope? | | | | necessary. Having the right trimming and cutting |
| With the rotary trimmer, this is no problem. You'll | | | | tools helps make your paper craft project look its |
| want to find a model that has easily | | | | best. Having these simple cutting tools on hand will |
| interchangeable blades. In addition to table top | | | | allow you to dive into those projects and come |
| trimmers, many rotary trimmer systems also | | | | out with straight edges, crops, and trims every |
| come with handheld trimmers that use | | | | time. Always keep your tools sharp and out of |
| interchangeable blades and allow you to cut | | | | the reach of small children. You're going to love |
| shapes like circles and flowers. Handheld rotary | | | | each of the different cutting and trimming tools, |
| trimmers use a self-healing cutting mat. You'll find | | | | and I suggest you get one of each to see the |
| many different sizes in the craft section of your | | | | benefits clearly. |
| local department store or fabric store. The unique | | | | |